WO2001002183A1

WO2001002183A1 - Data printing system, data printing method and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2001002183A1
Application number: PCT/JP2000/004473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yushi Ihara; Yoshio Kitamura; Toshio Narushima; Makoto Niioka; Yuji Kawamura
Original assignee: Sony Corporation
Priority date: 1999-07-05
Filing date: 2000-07-05
Publication date: 2001-01-11
Also published as: EP1120272A1; US20010009603A1; KR20010074960A

Abstract

A data print system comprises a record/reproduce device (6) including data input means (41) for receiving image data and/or character data attached to music data, record/reproduce means (42) for recording on a record medium the image data and/or character data input to the data input means (41) and reproducing data, and data output means (41) for producing an output in which image data and/or character data recorded in the record medium is packed in a packet compliant with the IEEE1394 standard; a printer device (5) including input means for receiving image data and/or character data included in an packet compliant with the IEEE1394 standard from the data output means (31), and print means (33) using image data and/or character data; and a controller (3) for controlling the record/reproduce device (6) and the printer device (5) to transfer packets containing image data and/or character data between the data output means (41) and the input means (31) in compliance with the IEEE1394 standard.

Description

Details ^: printing system, data printing method and recording medium

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus stored in an image recording / reproducing apparatus by, for example, a printing apparatus connected via an interface that conforms to the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard. The present invention relates to a data printing system for printing an image, a data printing method, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the data printing method.

Background technique

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard defines physical and electrical standards for connectors provided in interconnected devices. Each device equipped with such an interface conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard is physically connected to transmit and receive digital data at high speed and automatically set up connections between devices. Plug and Play etc. The IEEE 1394 standard has become widespread as the industry standard serial interface standard.

For example, in the field of music distribution using Internet / satellite communication broadcasting, etc., not only music information indicating musical sounds, but also image information indicating contents of video clips and the like related to music information, and music tunes for musical sounds. Character information such as the title is also received from the music distribution server to the client. As described above, in the field of music distribution, it has been proposed to add image information that is a moving image of the MPEG system and character information that is text data to music information.

Devices used in the field of music distribution described above include an STB (Set Top Box) having an interface compliant with the IEEE1394 standard, a television device, and a pudding device.

The television device, STB, and printing device are connected to a recording / reproducing device equipped with a recording medium via an interface that complies with the IEEE1394 standard, and the music information is recorded on the recording / reproducing device. Although it was recorded on a medium, the image and text information that was added to the music information and downloaded was not printed from the printing device.

In addition, a recording / reproducing device that records and reproduces information on a commonly used magneto-optical disk and a printing device are connected, and the title of the song about the music information recorded on the magneto-optical disk is printed. Although there was a printer device that could be used, the connection between the recording / reproducing device and the printer device was defined by a proprietary standard, and there was a problem that it lacked versatility and expandability. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and is capable of printing information accompanying music information, and has a versatility and expandability. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium storing a program for executing the data printing method and the data printing method.

The data printing system according to the present invention comprises: an information input unit for inputting image information and / or character information added to music information; and image information input by the information input unit on a randomly accessible recording medium. Recording / reproducing means for recording and / or reproducing character information; and IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics) for printing the image information and / or character information reproduced from the recording medium by the recording / reproducing means. Engineers) A recording / reproducing apparatus that includes an information output unit that outputs the bucket including the image information and / or character information in a bucket conforming to the 1394 standard, and the image information and the image output from the recording / reproducing apparatus. An input means for inputting an IEEE 1394 bucket containing Z or character information, and the input image information and / or Z character information contained in the input IEEE 1394 packet. Characterized in that it comprises a purine evening device comprising a printing means for printing.

Further, in the data printing method according to the present invention, the image information and / or character information added to the music information is input to a recording / reproducing device, and the image information and / or character information is recorded on a randomly accessible recording medium. A first step of playing, and the image reproduced in the first step. To print image information and / or text information, print it in a bucket conforming to the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engeers) 1394 standard, including the above image information and / or text information, to a pudding device. And the IEEE 1394 packet containing the image information and / or character information output in the second step is input, and the above-mentioned IEEE 1394 packet included in the IEEE 1394 packet is input. And a third step of printing image information and / or character information.

Further, the recording medium according to the present invention reproduces image information and / or character information added to music information recorded on a randomly accessible recording medium, and reproduces the reproduced image information and / or character information. The recording / reproducing device outputs the above image information and / or character information to the printer device so that the above image information and / or character information can be printed in a packet conforming to the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 13394 standard. A program for printing the image information and / or character information contained in the bucket by the printing apparatus is stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data printing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the STB, the pudding device, and the disk device that constitute the data printing system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure of a printing process performed by the printing apparatus.

FIGS. 4 (A), 4 (B) and 4 (C) are views for explaining the data structure of the IEEE1394 packet.

m5 is a diagram for describing the processing of CTB of STB when the additional information recorded on the recording medium in the printing apparatus is printed by the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a processing procedure of the STB CPU when the additional information recorded on the recording medium in the printing apparatus is printed by the printing apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The present invention is applied to, for example, a data printing system 1 having a configuration as shown in FIG.

This data printing system 1 includes, for example, an antenna 2 for receiving moving image information, music information, still images and text information attached to the music information broadcasted using a communication satellite, STB (Set Top Box) 3 that performs predetermined signal processing, a television device 4 that displays moving images, still images, character information, etc., a printing device 5 that prints and outputs images, and recording It comprises a disk device 6 for recording and reproducing data on a medium. The antenna 2 receives music and images from, for example, a music distribution server and outputs the music and images to the STB 3. The image received by the antenna 2 is superimposed with multi-channel video signals, music signals, and the like, and the image data is compressed by, for example, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method, and Music signals and the like are encrypted by a predetermined encryption method. The music signal received by the antenna 2 includes music information indicating a musical sound, and additional information including images and characters attached to the music information. This additional information is, for example, in a bitmap format when indicating an image, and is text data when indicating a character. Of course, the received data and the like may be transferred from the distribution server via the Internet.

The television device 4 displays a moving image by inputting image data of the NTS C (National Television System Committee) via the STB 3. When the television device 4 is an HD television device capable of displaying an HD (High Definition) image, the moving image data is displayed by inputting the moving image data conforming to the HD standard from the STB 3. I do. In addition, the display state of the television device 4 is controlled by the user by operating the STB 3 to display a still image, other character information, and the like.

As shown in Fig. 2, STB 3 is based on the IEEE 1394 standard, and includes a demodulator 11 that demodulates the data received by antenna 2, a descrambler 12 that performs decryption on the data, and an IEEE 1394 standard. A data conversion unit 13 for performing data conversion processing and the like, a demultiplexer unit 14 for performing processing for extracting data in a predetermined channel, an image memory 15, an MPEG processing unit 16 for performing decoding processing, Decoding Memory 17, an NTSC encoder 18 for converting to data to be displayed on the screen by the television device 4, a display controller 19, a display memory 20, and an instruction from a user are input. An operation input unit 21, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 23 for controlling each unit are provided.

The STB 3 includes a demodulation section 11, a descrambling section 12, a data conversion section 13, a demultiplexer section 14, an MPEG processing section 16, an operation input section 21, a RAM 22, and a CPU 23. It is connected to a data bus, and is configured so that the CPU 22 controls the processing operation of each unit via the data bus.

The demodulation unit 11 receives, from the antenna 2, additional information including, for example, analog video, music, images and characters accompanying the music, which indicate a moving image stream. The demodulation unit 11 performs demodulation processing and A / D conversion processing on the data received from the antenna 2 and outputs the data to the descramble unit 12 as digital data. The demodulation unit 11 receives a control signal from the CPU 23 via the data bus, and performs demodulation processing and A / D conversion processing based on the control signal.

The descrambling unit 12 performs a decryption process on the data from the demodulation unit 11 and restores the scrambled data. That is, the encrypted data is input to the descrambling unit 12, and decryption processing is performed according to the encryption method of the input data. Then, the descrambling unit 12 outputs the data that has been subjected to the decryption process and descrambled to the data conversion unit 13. The descrambling unit 12 receives a control signal from the CPU 23 via the data bus and performs a decryption process using, for example, encryption key information included in the control signal. Do.

The data conversion unit 13 is composed of, for example, a serial bus interface circuit conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard, and receives data from the desk lamp unit 12 in response to a control signal from the CPU 23. By performing signal processing in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard, data representing moving images, music, images and text accompanying the music, etc., in a bucket conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard can be obtained. And send and receive. Details of the configuration of this packet will be described later.

At this time, the data converter 13 adds the overhead specified as the control information to the moving image, the music, and the image or the character accompanying the music by converting the bucket specified by the IEEE 1394. Perform processing to generate. When outputting the downloaded music information and the additional information attached to the music information to the disk device 6, the data converter 13 follows an asynchronous arbitration (Asynchronous Arbitration). That is, the data converter 13 issues a request signal for acquiring the right to use the bus to the disk device 6 under the control of the CPU 23, and the disk device 6 at the node permits the request. In this case, a permission signal is returned to the data conversion unit 13 to secure the right to use the bus and transfer the above data. In the case of refusal, by transferring data indicating refusal to the data conversion unit 13, the right to use the bus is not obtained, and data transfer cannot be performed. The data transfer indicating these requests and permissions is performed asynchronously. When outputting the music information and the additional information to the disk device 6, the data converter 13 outputs each bucket including the music information and the additional information according to the response from the disk device 6. . Further, the data converter 13 secures the connection relationship with the printer 5 under the control of the CPU 23 in accordance with the above-mentioned attribution, and also establishes a bucket specified by IEEE 1394. A packet is generated, and the packet is output in a time-sharing manner to the printing apparatus 5 or the disk apparatus 6 connected according to the IEEE1394 standard.

By acquiring the right to use the bus as described above, the connection between the STB 3 and the disk device 6 and the printing device 5 is secured, and the above-mentioned data transmission and reception are performed thereafter.

Further, the data conversion unit 13 uses the control signal from the CPU 23 when displaying the moving image data received by the STB 3 without performing the processing according to the IEEE 1394 standard by the television device 4 as it is. Based on, the moving image data from the descrambler 12 is output to the demultiplexer 14.

The demultiplexer 14 performs a channel selection process of selecting a channel specified by the CPU 23 from a plurality of channels superimposed on the data from the data converter 13 and outputs the specified channel. Only the data indicating the channel is output to the MPEG processing unit 16.

The MPEG processing unit 16 decodes the data from the demultiplexer unit 14 in accordance with the MPEG standard based on the control signal from the CPU 23, and outputs it to the NTSC processing unit 18 as uncompressed data. I do. At this time, the MPEG processing unit 16 stores the moving image data of a plurality of frames to be decoded in the MPEG memory 17 as needed.

In addition, the MPEG processing unit 16 determines whether or not the moving image data from the processing unit 18 should be transmitted based on the control signal indicating the compression ratio and the like from the CPU 23. Then, by performing encoding processing conforming to the MPEG standard, the moving image data is compressed in the time axis direction and the space direction and output to the demultiplexer unit 14. At this time, the MPEG processing unit 16 performs a process of storing moving image data of a plurality of frames to be encoded in the MPEG memory 17.

Further, when the image information added to the music information from the data converter 13 is output to the disk device 6, the MPEG processor 16 outputs a JPEG signal according to a control signal from the CPU 23. (Joint Photographic coding Experts Group) Standards-based processing may be performed on still images. Of course, in addition to MPEG using inter-frame correlation, compression using an intra-frame compression method, for example, a DV method may be considered.

The NTSC processing unit 18 performs encoding processing so that the moving image data input from the MPEG processing unit 16 is converted into an NTSC video image that can be displayed on the screen of the television set 4. And output it to the television device 4.

The display control unit 19 performs processing for displaying NTSC moving image data on the television device 4 by the NTSC processing unit 18. At this time, the display control unit 19 stores the data to be processed in the display memory 20 as needed.

Specifically, the display control unit 19 adjusts the display size when displaying on the television device 4 in units of frames constituting the moving image data according to the television device 4, for example, 720 pixels of the NTSC system. Performs processing to control X480 pixels or HD (High Definition) type 1920 pixels X 1080 pixels. Further, when generating the data of one pixel, the display control unit 19 sets the luminance signal Y, the color difference signal Cr, and the color difference Performs processing to control the generation of 16-bit information by using the ratio to signal Cb at 4: 2: 2.

The operation input unit 21 generates an operation input signal and outputs it to the CPU 23 when a user operates an operation button or the like provided on the STB 3, for example. More specifically, the operation input unit 21 generates an operation input signal indicating that the moving image displayed on the television device 4 by the user is temporarily stopped and the still image is printed by the printing device 5, for example. You.

The CPU 23 generates, for example, a control signal for controlling each of the above-described units constituting the STB 3 based on an operation input signal from the operation input unit 21.

For example, when displaying a moving image received by the antenna 2 on the television device 4, the CPU 23 executes the demodulation unit 11, the descramble unit 12, the data conversion unit 13, the demultiplexer unit 14, and the MPEGEG. By outputting a control signal to the processing unit 16, control is performed so that demodulation, decryption processing, channel selection processing, and decoding processing conforming to the MPEG standard are performed on moving image data.

Further, when capturing a still image in units of frames among the moving images displayed on the television device 4 by the operation input signal from the operation input unit 21, the CPU 23 outputs the image at the time when the operation input signal is input. In this case, a control signal is generated so that a still image in a frame unit stored in the display memory 20 is read into the image memory 15.

Further, the CPU 23 controls the demultiplexer unit 14 and the data conversion unit 13 when an operation input signal for printing the still image generated by the printer 5 is input. The frame-based still image data stored in the image memory 15 is output to the printer 5 via the data converter 13 which is an interface circuit conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard. Control. The packet configuration of the IEEE 1394 standard for output will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing device 5 includes a data input unit 31 connected to the STB 3 and the disk device 6, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32 storing a print control program, and a printing medium. A print engine 33 for performing printing on a printer, a RAM 34, and a CPU 35 for controlling each component are provided.

The data input unit 31 includes, for example, an interface circuit conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard. In response to a control signal from the CPU 35, still image data input as a packet from the STB 3 or Others Perform signal processing according to the IEEE 1394 standard for additional information.

The connection setting for transmitting / receiving packets to / from the disk device 6 is, for example, when the data input unit 31 is mechanically connected to the disk device 6 via an optical cable or the like. The setting of the CPU 23 sets the receiving plug.

The data input unit 31 is operated in the asynchronous mode when data is transmitted and received from the disk device 6 when the connection is set.

That is, the OPEN data indicating the connection permission is transferred from the data input unit 31 to the disk device 6, and when the data indicating the connection permission is returned to the data input unit 31, the right to use the bus is secured. Then, the data packet reproduced from the disk device 6 to the printing device 5 is transmitted. The print engine 33 is a printing material holding drive mechanism, And a print head drive mechanism, etc., and is controlled by the CPU 35 to print a still image or the like on a printing medium.

The CPU 35 generates a control signal for controlling the data input unit 31 and the print engine 33 described above. At this time, the CPU 35 operates according to the print control program stored in the ROM 32, and controls the contents using the RAM 34 as a work area.

Next, print control performed by the CPU 35 of the printing apparatus 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

According to FIG. 3, first, in step ST1, the data input unit 31 of the printer unit 5 receives the above-mentioned packet generated according to the IEEE 1394 standard from the disk unit 6. .

In the next step ST2, the CPU 35 performs a screen dump process for printing everything displayed on the entire screen of the television device 4.

In the next step ST3, the CPU 35 performs a raster processing on the still image data subjected to the screen dump processing in the above-described step ST2. That is, the CPU 35 performs a process of converting the still image data into a dot format for transfer to the print engine 33.

In the next step ST4, the CPU 35 performs enlargement / reduction processing on the still image data on which the raster processing has been performed in step ST3. That is, the CPU 35 performs processing for changing the size of a still image when printing, for example, within a range specified by the user.

In the next step ST5, the CPU 35 The still image data subjected to the enlargement / reduction processing in T4 is subjected to color adjustment processing to convert the still image data into print data composed of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue).

In the next step ST6, the CPU 35 performs color adjustment and converts the RGB print data into cyan, magenta, and yellow colors, thereby obtaining cyan, magenta, and yellow in each dot. The ratio of yellow is determined, and dither processing is performed in step ST7. Then, in step ST8, the CPU 35 outputs the print data obtained by performing the dither processing to the print engine 33, thereby driving the print engine 33 and performing a print process of drawing data on a print substrate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the disk device 6 includes a data input unit 41 for receiving music information and the like from the STB 3, a recording / reproducing unit 42 for recording and reproducing music information on a recording medium, and a RAM 43. And a CPU 44 for controlling each unit.

The data input section 41 is composed of an interface circuit conforming to, for example, the IEEE 1394 standard, and responds to a control signal from the CPU 44 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 44 for music information and the like input from the STB 3 as a packet. In addition to performing signal processing in accordance with the 1394 standard, the printing apparatus 5 generates a packet including additional information such as a still image and text data indicating characters and outputs the packet to the printing apparatus 5. When outputting additional information accompanying the music information recorded on the recording medium to the pudding apparatus 5, the data input section 41 is transferred in an asynchronous mode. That is, the data input unit 41 performs a process of transmitting a packet when receiving a response from the printing device 5 that the bucket is receivable. The data input / output unit 41 transmits / receives packets to / from the STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 when the STB 3 and the printing apparatus 5 are mechanically connected, for example, via an optical cable. The connection setting for connection is made by the CPU 23 of the STB 3.

The recording / reproducing unit 42 includes a recording medium capable of recording and reproducing, for example, a magneto-optical disk, and records the music information and the additional information input by the data input unit 41 on the recording medium in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 44. In addition to performing the processing for reproducing the music information or the additional information recorded on the recording medium.

The CPU 44 controls each unit constituting the disk device 6. That is, the CPU 44 outputs a control signal to the data input unit 41 and the recording / reproducing unit 42 when recording music information and additional information input to the data input unit 41 on a recording medium. Control by that.

When outputting the additional information recorded on the recording medium to the printing apparatus 5, the CPU 44 outputs a control signal to the recording / reproducing section 42 and the data input section 41 so that the recording / reproducing section 42 outputs the additional information. Playback is performed, and a bucket containing additional information is generated by the data input unit 41.

Here, the data structure of the IE1394 package will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C. FIG. 4A shows a packet configuration of an asynchronous mode according to the IEEE1394 standard. By the way, when actually transferring a packet, the data shown in FIG. 4A after serial conversion of the packet is transferred.

IE EE 1394 is used to transfer data in synchronous (Isochronous) mode and asynchronously (Asynchronous) mode. There are two types, and the example shown in Fig. 4A shows the data structure when transferring in asynchronous mode.

In the case of the asynchronous mode, as shown in Fig. 4A, the packet header is composed of two parts, a bucket header and a data block. The bucket header describes information about the bucket. Transmission data to be transferred is inserted.

To the barb, to the source, to the source, {^ destination—ID, tl (transact label), rt (re try code tcode, pri, priority), source—ID, destination—off set, data—length, extented — Consists of tcode and header_CRC fields.

destination—The ID field describes the ID of the packet transmission destination, specifically, the ID number (NodelD) of a node specified by the IEEE1394 bus. An ID number is described. The tl (transact label) field contains a bucket number, specifically, a unique value that allows the destination and source nodes of the bucket to recognize that the transaction is related to itself. Is described.

The rt (retry code) field describes a retry method for temporary visits. In the tcode field, a code indicating that a message is to be written in the command register or the response register is described.

The pri (priority) field describes the priority of the bucket. source—In the ID field, the ID of the node that transmitted the packet, specifically, the ID number of the node specified by the IEEE1394 bus, is described. In this embodiment, the ID number of the disk device 6 is described. Is done. In the destination_offset field, the address of the command register or response register is described. In the data_length field, information on the data length of the data block is described in the bucket header. The extented_tcode field is used to extend tcode. header—The CRC field describes the CRC calculated value that performs the checksum of the packet header.

On the other hand, the data block consists of cts (command and transaction set), FCPdata (Function Control Protocol data) and data_CRC fields.

Here, the cts field and the FCPdata field are referred to as FCP frames. In the data_CRC field, a CRC calculation value for performing a checksum of the data block is described.

The cts field defines the format of the FCP frame. That is, a packet in the asynchronous (Asynchronous) mode includes an FCP frame, and the FCP frame has a cts field as a field for storing information indicating a format type of the FCP frame. are doing. This FCP frame is defined by the IEC (International Electrotechinacal Commission 1883), and the format type of the FCP frame is classified by the cts field. For example, when the packet to be transmitted is a command bucket and the value of the cts field is 0000, the FCP frame of the command packet is a command specified by the AV / C Digital Interface Command Set of IEEE 1394. Frame (hereinafter referred to as an AV / C command frame). If the transmitted packet is a response frame to the command frame, the cts If the value of the field is 0000, the FCP frame of the response packet is the response frame specified by the IEEE1394 AV / C Digital Interface Command Set (hereinafter referred to as the AV / C command frame). ).

The AV / C command frame has the frame structure shown in Fig. 4B. That is, the AV / C command frame includes fields for cts, ctype, subunit_tip, subunit-ID, opecode, and operand. Note that since the bucket configuration in the asynchronous mode is 32 bits, the AV / C command frame contains operands as necessary so that the total is an integral multiple of 32 bits. Zeros are added after the field.

The cts field is set to 0000 in the case of the AV / C command frame as described above. The command type is described in the ctype field. For example, when the value of the ctype field is 0000, it indicates that the command by the packet is a command for controlling the bucket destination device, that is, a control command. When the value of the ctype field is 00001, it indicates that the command by the packet is a command for inquiring the status of the packet transmission destination device, that is, a status command.

The subunit_type field describes the type of node to which the command applies. For example, when a predetermined value is described, the node to which the command is applied is a monitor or a video cassette recorder. In the case of the present embodiment, since the disk device 6 and the printer device 5 are applied with the command, a predetermined value is described in this subimit_type field to distinguish the node type. subunit—ID field In the field, the ID number of the device to which the command of the bucket is applied is described.

In the opcode field, a specific command code for the node indicated by the subunit_type field, that is, an operation code is described. For example, when instructing the disk device 6 to reproduce the audio data recorded on the disk, the value of the node for the disk device 6 is described in the subunit_type field and the code for instructing the reproduction in the opcode field. Is described. When reproducing the additional information recorded on the disk, the value of the node for the disk device 6 is described in the subunit_type field, and a code instructing the reproduction of the additional information is described in the op code field. Will be done. When a print request is instructed to the printing apparatus 5, a node value for the printing apparatus 5 is described in the subunit_type field, and a code for instructing printing is described in the opcode field. It will be.

In the operand field, information necessary for executing the operation code described in the opcode field is described as necessary. Specifically, the playback speed and direction are described. In the case of the present embodiment, the information transferred to the printing apparatus 5 is the additional information described above, and the printing direction, printing size, and printing position. , The number of prints, etc. will be described. Incidentally, any number of fields can be set in the operand field as long as the size of the asynchronous bucket does not exceed the maximum value. Each field will be assigned to each request.

On the other hand, the AV / C response frame has the frame structure shown in Fig. 4C. Becomes The AV / C response frame has almost the same frame structure as the AVZC command frame, but the ctype field in the AV / C command frame is used as the respons field. The response to the command is described in the re sponse field. That is, in the response field, for example, when the reception of the command is completed normally, a value indicating that the reception is completed normally is described, and the response is a response to the AV / C command frame.

The frame structures shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C are the contents specified in IEEE394 and IE883, and refer to those standards for details.

The present invention uses an AV / C command frame in which information such as the print size, the number of prints, the print position, and the print direction is inserted so that additional information about audio information recorded on the disc is printed (FIG. 4B). Into the asynchronous bucket data tab shown in FIG. 4A, and transfer the data from the STB 3 to the printer 5, and the STB 3 reproduces the additional information described above on the disk 6. Then, insert the AV / C command frame (Fig. 4B), which instructs the printer unit 5 to transfer the data, into the data block of the asynchronous packet shown in Fig. 4A and transfer it. Then, the additional information reproduced by the disk device 6 is input to the data packet of the asynchronous packet frame shown in FIG. 4A and transferred to the pudding device 5, and the pudding device 5 The transferred additional information is printed based on the AV / C command frame (Fig. 4B).

In the data printing system 1 configured as described above, when the music information is received by the antenna 2, the CPU 23 of the STB 3 controls the data conversion unit 13 to perform the above-described processing including the music information. I EE E Generate and transfer a packet of the 1394 standard, and record it on the recording medium in the disk device 6. At this time, the CPU 23 controls not only the music information but also the additional information added to the music information in the bucket so as to be transmitted to the disk device 6. Specifically, control is performed so that the additional information is inserted into the bucket in the bucket shown in FIG. 4A. Further, when an operation input signal for printing additional information added to music information recorded on a recording medium in the disk device 6 is input, the CPU 23 Performs the process of setting the connection relationship with. Specifically, an OPEN request is issued to the plug of the printer device 5 and the disk device 6 to which the IEEE 1394 bus is connected as described above, and the right to use the IEEE 1394 bus is secured. Then, the CPU 23 controls the disk device 6 by using the set connection relationship, so that the disk device 6 transmits the additional information to the pudding device 5. The details of this processing will be described later.

In the data overnight printing system 1 configured as described above, the music information and the additional information received by the STB 3 are recorded on the recording medium in the disk device 6, and the JPEG format data included in the additional information is recorded by the printer 5. The processing of the STB 3, the disk device 6, and the printing device 5 when printing an image composed of one night and text composed of text data will be described with reference to FIGS.

It is assumed that the additional information (S 1 in FIG. 4) received by the STB 3 has been downloaded to the disk device 6 on the assumption that the additional information is printed by the printing device.

According to FIG. 5, first, between the pudding device 5 and the disk device 6 The connection settings. That is, 〇 1123 of 3 83 sends a transmission-side Bragg setting request (OPEN request) S 11 to the disk device 6 that transmits the additional information. This is for securing the right to use the bus described above. ₍ Accordingly, the CPU 44 of the disk device 6 transmits the additional information to the printing device 5 among a plurality of plugs set in the data input unit 41. The plug is set, and the response S12 is transmitted to the STB 3. Thus, the right to use the IEEE1394 bus is secured between the STB 3 and the disk device 6.

Next, the CPU 23 of the STB 3 sends a receiving-side plug setting request (0 PEN request) S 13 to the printer device 5. In response to this, the CPU 35 of the pudding device 5 sets a plug that receives additional information from the disk device 6 among a plurality of plugs set in the data input unit 31, and responds S 14 To STB 3. As a result, the right to use the bus between the STB 3 and the printer unit 5 is secured, and the above-mentioned right to use the bus for the disk unit 6 allows the disk unit 6 and the printer unit 5 to connect with each other. Between them, the right to use the IEEE 1394 bus for transferring additional information data is also secured.

Next, the printing device 5 transmits a printing request S15 to the printing device 5 to print images and characters included in the additional information. The command indicating printing and the codes such as the number of prints, the print direction, and the print position are inserted into the AV / C command frame of the IE1394 1394 packet, and the packet is transferred. In response, the printing apparatus 5 enters a standby state for performing the printing process, and transmits a response S 16 to the STB 3.

Next, CPU 23 of STB 3 prints additional information to STB 3 A transmission request S 17 for transmission to the device 5 is transmitted to the STB 3. In response, the CPU 44 of the disk device 6 sends the response S 18 to the STB 3. This response is inserted into the response field of the AV / C command frame of the IE EE 1394 bucket described above, and is transmitted to the STB 3 with a code indicating the response inserted.

Next, in response to the transmission of the response S 18 to the STB 3, the CPU 44 of the disk device 6 controls the recording / reproducing unit 42 to reproduce the additional information, and sends the additional information to the data input unit 41. Control to output. The data input unit 41 divides the additional information to be transmitted into a plurality of pieces of data having a predetermined capacity, thereby generating data # 1, data # 2, and data # 11. Generate a packet at Specifically, the reproduced additional information is inserted into the data block of the IEEE 1394 bucket. Then, data # 1, data # 2, ... 'Data: H = n is transmitted to the pudding device 5. At this time, the CPU 35 of the printing device 5 monitors the remaining amount of memory in the data input section 31 and transmits the remaining amount of memory that changes in response to receiving each bucket to the disk device 6. . When the printer 5 receives the data from data # 1 to data #n, it starts the printing process.

At this time, the CPU 23 of the STB 3 transmits the status confirmation S 19 to the printing apparatus 5 at any time, and checks the printing status according to the response S 20 from the printing apparatus 5. Specifically, a code indicating the status check is inserted into the AV / C command frame of the IEEE 1394 packet, and the printing apparatus 5 that has received this packet transmits a code indicating the print status to the AV / C command frame. / C Insert into response frame and transfer to STB 3.

The data printing system 1 configured as described above includes a recording / reproducing unit 42 Even if the additional information added to the music information provided in the camera is image data or text data, the data input unit 41 includes the data in a bucket conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard. Outputting to the device 5 allows the printing device 5 to print images and characters.

Therefore, according to the data printing system 1, even if the additional information added to the music information received from the music distribution server by the STB 3 is image data or character data, the data input unit 41 Printing can be performed by the printing apparatus 5 using a general-purpose in-face circuit as shown in FIG.

In the above description of the data printing system 1, an example in which uncompressed still image data is included in a bucket from the STB 3 and transmitted to the printing device 5 has been described. Moving image data or still image data may be transmitted and received in a bucket by performing compression processing by the G method or the JPEG method. According to such a data printing system 1, since the amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced, higher-speed data transfer and print processing can be realized.

In the description of the data printing system 1 described above, the data conversion unit 13 and the data input unit 31, which are interface circuits conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard, are provided in the STB 3 and the printing device 5, respectively. Although an example has been described, an interface circuit such as another USB may be used, for example. That is, according to the data printing system 1 including the STB 3 equipped with USB and the printing device 5, a bucket is sent and received between the STB 3 and the printing device 5 in a digital format. Thus, the printing device 5 can print a fine image.

The disk device 5 described above may be, for example, an MD (Mini Disk) deck, and the additional information may be information called an MD clip, for example, a still image, a song name, lyrics, a singer name, or the like. Further, as the disk device 5, a hard disk device, a DVD device, or the like may be considered, and the above-described still image and text data may be output to the printing device 6 as additional information from these devices. Further, as described above, music information and accompanying additional information may be input to the STB 3 from the distribution server via the Internet.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Information input means for inputting image information and / or character information added to music information, and recording of image information and / or character information input by the information input means on a randomly accessible recording medium Compliant with IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard for printing the image information and / or character information reproduced from the recording medium by the recording / reproducing means for reproducing and the recording / reproducing means. A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: an information output unit that outputs the bucket including the image information and / or character information to the bucket.

An input means for inputting an IEEE 1394 packet including the image information and / or character information output from the recording / reproducing apparatus; and an input means for inputting the IEEE 1394 packet included in the IEEE 1394 packet. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing apparatus having printing means for printing image information and / or character information.

2. Further, the music information and the image information and / or character information added to the music information are externally input, and the input music information and the image information and / or character information are recorded and reproduced. Data receiving means for outputting to the information input means of the apparatus and controlling the transfer of the IEEE 1394 bucket between the recording / reproducing apparatus and the printing apparatus. A data printing system as set forth in claim 1.

3. The information output means of the recording / reproducing device includes the image information and the Z or (1) generating and outputting the above packet so that the character information is included in the removable packet area of the IEEE 1394 bucket; system.

4. The data receiving means may include information for instructing the printing device to print the image information and / or character information transferred from the recording / reproducing device in the IEEE1394 bucket. An IEEE 1394 packet is generated and output, and information for instructing the recording / reproducing device to output the image information and / or character information from the recording / reproducing device to the IEEE 1394 packet is provided. 3. The data printing system according to claim 2, wherein the recording and reproducing device and the printing device are controlled by generating and outputting an IEEE 1394 packet so as to be included.

5. The data receiving means generates the IEEE 1394 bucket so as to include the information for instructing the printing of the image information and / or the character information, and further includes a print size, a print direction, a print position, and the number of prints. 5. The data printing system according to claim 4, wherein the bucket is generated so as to include information for instructing the printing, and the bucket is output to the printing apparatus.

6. A first step in which the image information and / or character information added to the music information is input to a recording / reproducing device, and the image information and / or character information is recorded / reproduced on a randomly accessible recording medium;

In order to print the image information and / or character information reproduced in the first step, the image information and / or text information are printed in a bucket conforming to the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Encoders) 13394 standard. Or a second step to output to the printer with text information. And

The IEEE 1394 packet including the image information and / or character information output in the second step is input, and the image information and / or character included in the IEEE 1394 packet is input. The third step of printing information

A data printing method comprising:

7. Further, the music information and the image information and / or character information added to the music information are externally input, and the input music information and the image information and / or character information are recorded and reproduced. 7. The receiving step according to claim 6, further comprising a receiving step for outputting to said device and controlling to transfer said IEEE1394 packet between said recording / reproducing device and said printing device. Data printing method.

8. In the second step, the packet is generated and output so that the image information and / or character information is included in the data area of the IEEE 1394 bucket. The data printing method according to paragraph 6 above.

9. The receiving step may include information for instructing the printing apparatus to print the image information and the Z or character information transferred from the recording / reproducing apparatus of the IEEE 1394 bucket. Generating and outputting an IEEE 1394 packet; and instructing the recording / reproducing device to output the image and / or character information from the recording / reproducing device to the IEEE 1394 packet. Generating and outputting an IEEE 1394 bucket so as to include the information, outputting the IEEE 1394 bucket to the printer and the recording / reproducing device, and then outputting the second packet. Step over the pudding equipment 8. The data printing method according to claim 7, wherein an IEEE 1394 bucket including image information and / or character information is output.

10. In the step of outputting a bucket to the printing apparatus in the receiving step, the IEEE 1394 packet is generated so as to include the information instructing the printing of the image information and the character information. 10. The data according to claim 9, wherein the packet is generated so as to include information indicating a print size, a print direction, a print position, and the number of prints, and output to the printing device. Printing method.

1 1. Reproduce the image information and / or character information added to the music information recorded on the randomly accessible recording medium and convert the reproduced image information and / or character information to IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Output the image information and / or character information from the recording / reproducing apparatus to the printing apparatus so that the image information and / or character information can be printed in the bucket conforming to the 1 394 standard. A recording medium storing a program for printing the image information and / or character information contained in the data.

12. The program generates the bucket so that the image information and / or character information is inserted into the data block area of the IEEE 1394 bucket and outputs the bucket to the printer. The recording medium according to claim 11, characterized by the features.

13. The program further includes information for instructing the printer device to print the above-mentioned image information and / or character information transferred from the above-mentioned IEEE 1394 packet recording / reproducing device. Generates and outputs an IEEE 1394 bucket so that the In response to this, an IEEE 1394 bucket is generated and output so that the above-mentioned IEEE 1394 bucket includes information for instructing the recording / reproducing device to output the above-mentioned image information and / or character information. After outputting the IEEE1394 bucket including the information of the print instruction and the output instruction, the IEEE1394 bucket including the image information and / or the character information is recorded and reproduced on the printer. 13. The recording medium according to claim 12, wherein the recording medium is output from the apparatus to the printing apparatus.

14. The program generates the IEEE 1394 packet including the print instruction and generates the bucket so as to include information indicating a print size, a print direction, a print position, and the number of prints. 13. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the recording medium is output to the printing apparatus.